All My Life I Had To Fight: Embracing Miracles In The Midst Of Facing Frustration, Rejection & Shame

By Akia Smith

"All My Life I had to Fight" is a heartfelt autobiography and prophetic remembrance of factual events that delve deep into the remarkable journey of an ordinary individual who refused to let circumstances define her destiny. Set against the backdrop of an ever-changing society, this captivating book explores the power of resilience, deter

• Language: English
• Publisher: American Book Services
• Release date: Dec 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798348243692

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ALL MY LIFE

I HAD TO FIGHT

Embracing Miracles in the midst of facing frustration, rejection, and shame.

By

Akia Smith

Copyright ©2024 by Akia Smith

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in the U.S. by American Book Services

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version☐, NIV☐. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.☐ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.☐

Scripture quotations marked ESVare from the ESV☐ Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version☐). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLTare from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJVare taken from the New King James Version☐. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Smith, Akia, author.

Title: AllmylifeIhadtofight:miraclesinthemidstoffacing frustration, rejection & shame / Akia Smith

Description:U.S.:AmericanBookServices,2024.|Includesbibliographical references.

Printed in the United States of America

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, who encouraged me to share my story and saved me from years of internal and external struggles.

Dedicated in loving memory to my father, Robert Leon Greene, Sr., who passed away while in my care and during the conclusion of writing this book. I miss you so much, and I thank you for the invaluable advice and lessons that you have taught me. Throughout your life, you so graciously demonstrated how to finish what was started, no matter how difficult.

I love you forever!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First, I’d like to thank Sandra Caudle, my spiritual mother, for kickstarting my spiritual and prophetic journey by helping me to learn more about the love that God has for me. Your attention and care to ensure that my faith was strengthened and the relentless training to hear God’s voice is appreciated. Thank you for the late night/early morning calls to pray and hold my hand when life became confusing and difficult.

Next, I send my heartfelt expression of gratitude to ministers Paul & Stellah Brown from Prophetic Heartbeat for supporting me on my newfound journey and for guiding me daily on how to live out the plans that God intended for me. Their daily prophetic words of encouragement and contribution to my spiritual growth have been invaluable, and I am truly grateful for their sensitivity to God, their expertise, and their guidance.

I am indebted to American Book Services for their proofreading, editing, and insightful suggestions, which have undoubtedly shaped this book into its final form. Their dedication to improving the manuscript has enriched the overall quality of my work.

I would like to extend my appreciation to Keio Gamble for his wisdom, encouragement, and mentorship during my early writing processes. His invaluable advice was certainly a constant source of inspiration, shaping my approach to writing and the storytelling of this my first book. Additionally, thanks to the new author's group that he founded, I was able to relate to other new inspiring authors and find encouragement to press through the beginning stages and complexities of writing.

I am grateful for the numerous others who have contributed to this project in ways both big and small. I am also grateful to the educational systems to which I dedicated my years of professional service untilmyearlyretirement.Yourroleinshapingmyjourney has been exceptional, and I truly appreciate the depth, experiences, and resilience that were gained through my association with you. Thank you for being a crucial part of my professional and personal growth.

Special Thanks to Lancaster, Cedar Hill, Highland Hills, and Duncanville City Libraries, who allowed me to remain all day until closing to complete my book in solitude and peace.

Finally, my eternal love to my family. Ralph, who, through the storms, seasons of testing, trials, and separations, helped me to gain a wealth of knowledge and the importance of self-love throughout our journey. Glory to God! To my sons, Amere and Jhamir, who loved me through the intense writing process and for not complaining of the late-night meals and/or infrequent calls or text messages when my brain was in overdrive. To my parents for making the decision to try again after they considered no more children. Thank you for creating a safe haven for me as a child and for helping me grow into the woman I am today.

Table of Contents

Introduction             1

Chapter 1: Deep Roots: The Beginning             2

Afflictions             12

The Turning Point             13

Miracle Moments – Hardships             17

Chapter 2: Building Relationships             18

Growing Pains             21

The Weight of Familiarity             23

On My Own             25

Who Am I, Why me?             27

Miracle Moments – Fall but Get Back Up             30

Chapter 3: Faded Pictures             31

Not Easily Broken             35

Shattered Trust             37

Miracle Moments – Growing from Mistakes             40

Chapter 4: Power Struggles             41

The One             42

Family Ties             44

Extended Family             46

Love, Deception and Divorce             47

The Latter Years             54

Miracle Moments – Longsuffering             57

Chapter 5: Climbing the Ladder of Success             58

Glass Ceiling             60

Friends or Foes             63

Destiny Blockers             65

The Shattered Veil             67

Miracle Moments – Affliction             71

Chapter 6: Healing Hurts             72

Gracefully Broken – Wilderness Season             74

Spiritual Isolation             76

Facing Frustration             78

Confronting Rejection             80

Overcoming Shame             82

My Job Experience             83

Miracle Moments – Shackles             85

Chapter 7: Brand New             86

Growth Mindset             87

Cultivating Self-Compassion             88

Ignore the Naysayers             88

Miracle Moments – Faithfulness             90

Chapter 8: Finally Free             91

Thriving Beyond Expectations             92

Miracle Moments – Free Indeed             94

Chapter 9: Chosen to Overcome             95

From Suffering to Victory             98

Targeted to Die not Live             101

Fit in or Stand Out             105

Walking into My Purpose             109

Positive Mindset             110

Go Get It!             112

Chapter 10: Goodbye for now, Dad             113

References…………………………              116

About the Author………………………. 117

Other Works by Author…………………...118

INTRODUCTION

All My Life I Had to Fight is inspired by a famous quote in the 1985 drama, The Color Purple, portrayed by the character Celie. It was written by Alice Walker and adapted into a film directed by Steven Spielberg. It reflects the struggles and challenges she faced throughout her life. The quote has become a powerful symbol of strength and resilience for many people, particularly those who have overcome hardship and adversity.

All My Life I Had to Fight is a testament to my life’s journey. Although I was born into a family that was filled with love, every step taken was met with resistance, and every victory was hard- fought. I encountered obstacles and challenges with nearly every endeavor I pursued. To be successful meant the possibility of it being short-lived. Life presented mountains of challenges, making it appear as though I faced more struggles than most. I was never the favorite in the eyes of man, but I was always highly favored by God.

From the moment I took my first breath, it seemed as if the odds were stacked against me, but I was determined to persevere through the years of increased tumultuous trials. As I look back on my life, I can see how every struggle, every setback, and every moment of despair was simply a steppingstone leading me to the most miraculous of blessings. Despite fighting relentless battles and facing constant hurdles, once the veil was removed and my vision was clear, I remained unwavering in my belief in the miracles and divine interventions that God had planned for me.

This is my autobiography, a prophetic book of remembrance. It is my story of how I fought mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual battles against all odds to face and overcome bouts of frustration, feelings of inadequacy, rejection, and shame. When I truly decided to Let Go and relinquish control of my life, I found God’s grace and miraculous favor waiting for me at every turn.

Growing up in a large inner city in the